Choosing the right frame to screenprint on fabrics depends on the ink you`ll use: for water based ink you`d better use a frame`s texture up to 77 threads/cm, but if you`ll use Plastisol inks you can use a 120 threads/cm frame`s texture, and this is the thickest frame`s texture to screenprint on paper using solvent based inks.
Generally if you use solvent based ink to screenprint on paper and plastisol inks to screenprint on fabrics it`s enough using a medium thickness frame`s texture of 90 threads/cm, but if you use water based inks instead of Plastisol to screenprint on fabrisc the frame`s texture can`t be thicker of 77 threads/cm, but remember that the thickest frame texture to screenprint with water based ink is 55 threads/cm.
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This is Franco Ratto,
Technical Director of Screen Printing Store.
Feel free to ask me your tech questions about printing or commercial informations.
Screenprinting Q&A
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Hi I need to silkscreen on fabric, but with a particular effect: I what that the texture of the fabric will stay visibile under the colour. Is is possible? What`s the best ink to use it for this effect?
Penny, NL Friday, 26 August 2011Water based inks are suitable to silk print on fabric with the effect you need, I can suggest you Modatex ink. Modatex ink viscosity is suitable for 55 thread/cm frame but it`s really difficult planning the effect on the fabric without precise informations. -
Does a screen every get too old to use? OR Is it possible to clean an old screen to be good-as-new?
Holly, Vermont Sunday, 24 July 2011Holly good morning and thank you for writing.
With the screen two things get old: the emulsion and the fabric.
The emulsion gets old after about two thousand passes.
The fabric gets old after about twenty thousand passes.
When the emulsion gets old, you can remove it with a specific product called "stripper", wash very well, let it dry, and then recoat it with a new layer of emulsion.
When the fabric gets old, you must remove it, then stretch the frame with a new fabric.
When the frame gets old I suggest you throw it away.
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Is it possible to screen print on screens 2m wide by 5m long? What is the largest size possible? Can I unroll plastic sheet off a roll and screen print 5m lengths? Thank you very much.
Stefan, Spain Friday, 22 July 2011The maximum size of a screen could be 3 m wide by 6 m long.
However the problem is not to make the screen and engrave it.
The real problem is to use it by hand and without a special machine.
For example, it would be very difficult to pull a 2 or 3 meter long squeegee by hand.
I would suggest that it would be better to print your 5 meter sheet in smaller sections on a smaller screen. -
I just bought SCREEN - SOL 400 BLU and i don't have 5000w halogen bulb, what alternative can i use to replace that for exposure? thanks in advance
Jayson, USA Friday, 22 July 2011It is not important whether you have 5000w or less, what is important is that it must be a UV light.
For example, a fluorescent tube of 36 w is enough to engrave your screen (with whatever emulsion you decide to use) if it is a UV tube.
Screenprintingstore has in stock kits of fluorescent tubes UV lights.
An alternative is to use a special kind of emulsion, e.g. the QLT Emulsion, which we have in stock. With this you can engrave your screen under a standard cold light (blue light 5000-6000 °K).
I hope this answers your question -
Hello, I silk screenprint on paper with a 120 thread frame with a Serimat Red ink that when it dries it looses its covering and then I should apply the ink again. How can I solve the problem?
Johnny, UK Thursday, 14 July 2011Does the problem arises printing big and regular areas? It could depends on the permeability of the paper that soaks up the ink, so the ink itself goes into the fibre without remain on the paper surface. A frame of 120 thread it`s too much for big areas, maybe it`s better a thicker 77 thread frame that allows to a higher quantity of ink to pass and deposit on the paper. You should also try to change paper and silk screenprint using a less absorbent and more compact one so the ink will dry before go into the fibre.